Aboriginal Respiratory Health May Get Closer Look

Aboriginal Respiratory Health May Get Closer Look

Tuesday, July 06, 2010 at 14:54

The respiratory health of First Nations and Metis people in the province could be going under the microscope.

The Saskatchewan Lung Association is providing new money for research projects — and one of the suggested topics revolves around Aboriginal respiratory health.

Dr. Brian Graham says, according to figures provided by the Regina Qu’Appelle health region, First Nations and Metis residents are three times more likely to be taken to the hospital for things like asthma than the general population.

He says 85 per cent of hospitalizations for First Nations children are due to respiratory problems and infections.

Graham adds the Athabasca Regional Health Authority has the highest rate of hospitalization for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and that needs to be looked at.